A bibliometric analysis of research on the psychological and social implications of digital technology use on children and young people’s well-being in online environments

Gui Jun 1 2, Jiaqing Xu 2 3 * , Nasrullah Dharejo 2 4 * , Mumtaz Aini Alivi 2 * , Lan Tian 5
More Detail
1 Department of Internet and New Media, School of Journalism and Intelligent Communication, Guangzhou Huali College, Guangzhou, CHINA
2 Department of Media and Communication Studies, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Universiti of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA
3 Luoyang Institute of Science and Technology, Peony Flower City, CHINA
4 Department of Media and Communication, Sukkur IBA University, PAKISTAN
5 Department of Visual Communication Design, School of New Art and Design, Guangzhou Huali College, Guangzhou, CHINA
* Corresponding Author
Online Journal of Communication and Media Technologies, Volume 16, Issue 2, Article No: e202617. https://doi.org/10.30935/ojcmt/18321
OPEN ACCESS   16 Views   8 Downloads   Published online: 06 Apr 2026
Download Full Text (PDF)

ABSTRACT

The widespread adoption of digital technologies has profoundly influenced the lives of children, youths, and adolescents, raising growing concerns about the psychological and social impacts of online engagement. In response, this study presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the research landscape in this field, highlighting publication trends, key contributors, emerging research themes, and patterns of collaboration. Using data retrieved from the Scopus database, the analysis examined publication growth, identified the most influential authors, journals, and countries, explored co-authorship relationships among authors and nations, and assessed knowledge exchange through bibliographic coupling of countries. The results indicate a steady increase in publication output over the past decade, with a pronounced surge in recent years, reflecting heightened scholarly interest in this area. Several authors, institutions, and countries emerged as major contributors to the literature. Keyword co-occurrence analysis revealed prominent research themes, including cyberbullying, internet addiction, social media use, and their implications for mental health. In addition, the study examined collaboration patterns among researchers and journals and identified clusters of countries with strong collaborative ties. Overall, these findings provide valuable insights into the current state of research on the psychological and social effects of digital technology use on children’s and adolescents’ well-being in online environments, highlighting research gaps, collaboration opportunities, and future research directions. The bibliometric approach employed offers a distinctive perspective on the evolving knowledge landscape and supports efforts to strengthen collaboration and enhance research impact in this critical field.
Keywords: digital technologies, psychological implications, online environments, bibliometric analysis, mental health, digital technology use

CITATION

Jun, G., Xu, J., Dharejo, N., Alivi, M. A., & Tian, L. (2026). A bibliometric analysis of research on the psychological and social implications of digital technology use on children and young people’s well-being in online environments. Online Journal of Communication and Media Technologies, 16(2), e202617. https://doi.org/10.30935/ojcmt/18321

REFERENCES

  • Beyens, I., Pouwels, J. L., van Driel, I. I., Keijsers, L., & Valkenburg, P. M. (2020). The effect of social media on well-being differs from adolescent to adolescent. Scientific Reports, 10, Article 10763. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-67727-7
  • Bozzola, E., Spina, G., Agostiniani, R., Barni, S., Russo, R., Scarpato, E., Di Mauro, A., Di Stefano, A. V., Caruso, C., Corsello, G., & Staiano, A. (2022). The use of social media in children and adolescents: Scoping review on the potential risks. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(16), Article 9960. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19169960
  • Brony, M., Alivi, M. A., Syed, M. A. M., & Dharejo, N. (2024a). A systematic review on social media health communications and behavioural development among Indians in the COVID-19 context. Studies in Media and Communication, 12(2), 37-49. https://doi.org/10.11114/smc.v12i2.6585
  • Brony, M., Alivi, M. A., Syed, M. A. M., Dharejo, N., & Jiaqing, X. (2024b). A systematic review on social media utilization by health communicators in India: Insights from COVID-19 pandemic. Online Journal of Communication and Media Technologies, 14(4), Article e202449. https://doi.org/10.30935/OJCMT/15007
  • Chassiakos, Y. R., Radesky, J., Christakis, D., Moreno, M. A., Cross, C., Hill, D., Ameenuddin, N., Hutchinson, J., Boyd, R., Mendelson, R., Smith, J., & Swanson, W. S. (2016). Children and adolescents and digital media. Pediatrics, 138(5), Article e20162593. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2016-2593
  • Dharejo, N., Alivi, M. A., Rahamad, M. S., Jiaqing, X., & Brony, M. (2023). Effects of social media use on adolescent psychological well-being: A systematic literature review. International Journal of Interactive Mobile Technologies, 17(20), 171-191. https://doi.org/10.3991/IJIM.V17I20.44663
  • Ellegaard, O., & Wallin, J. A. (2015). The bibliometric analysis of scholarly production: How great is the impact? Scientometrics, 105, 1809-1831. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-015-1645-z
  • Evans, F. (2021). Parenting for a digital future: How hopes and fears about technology shape children’s lives, sonia livingstone and alicia Blum-Ross, 2020, New York, oxford university press, ISBN: 9780190874704. Journal of Technology in Human Services, 39(2), 212-213. https://doi.org/10.1080/15228835.2021.1902909
  • Fanxing, K., Gao, Y., Herold, F., Hossain, M. M., Yeung, A. S., Ng, J. L., Kramer, A. F., & Zou, L. (2023). Relationships between physical activity, sleep, and screen time with academic performance and psychological functioning among US children and adolescents with depression. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 53, Article 101806. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2023.101806
  • Granic, I., Morita, H., & Scholten, H. (2020). Beyond screen time: Identity development in the digital age. Psychological Inquiry, 31(3), 195-223. https://doi.org/10.1080/1047840X.2020.1820214
  • Jiaqing, X., Alivi, M. A., Mustafa, S. E., & Dharejo, N. (2023). The impact of social media on women’s body image perception: A Meta-analysis of well-being outcomes. International Journal of Interactive Mobile Technologies, 17(20), 148-170. https://doi.org/10.3991/IJIM.V17I20.44665
  • Jun, G., Xu, J., Alivi, M. A., Zhewen, F., Dharejo, N., & Brony, M. (2025). Impacts of digital media on children’s wellbeing: A bibliometric analysis. Online Journal of Communication and Media Technologies, 15(1), Article e202501. https://doi.org/10.30935/ojcmt/15696
  • Khan, N., Qureshi, M. I., Sikandar, H., Ahmed, E., & Hassan, M. (2023). The COVID-19 crisis and digital transformation, paving the way for the future of digital leadership in the post-COVID-19 world. In Proceedings of the Digital Leadership (pp. 1-17). ARPA.
  • Li, C., & Batterham, P. J. (2025). Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of screen time with adolescent depression and anxiety. The British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 64(4), 873-887. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjc.12547
  • Nagata, J. M., Cortez, C. A., Iyer, P., Ganson, K. T., Chu, J., & Conroy, A. A. (2021). Parent-adolescent discrepancies in adolescent recreational screen time reporting during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Academic Pediatrics, 22(3), 413-421. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acap.2021.12.008
  • Nakshine, V. S., Thute, P., Khatib, M. N., & Sarkar, B. (2022). Increased screen time as a cause of declining physical, psychological health, and sleep patterns: A literary review. Cureus, 14(10), e30051. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.30051
  • Nesi, J., Choukas-Bradley, S., & Prinstein, M. J. (2018). Transformation of adolescent peer relations in the social media context: Part 2–Application to peer group processes and future directions for research. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 21, 295-319. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10567-018-0262-9
  • Odgers, C. L., & Jensen, M. R. (2020). Annual research review: Adolescent mental health in the digital age: Facts, fears, and future directions. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines, 61(3), 336-348. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.13190
  • Orben, A. (2020). Teenagers, screens and social media: A narrative review of reviews and key studies. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 55, 407-414. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-019-01825-4
  • Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D., Shamseer, L., Tetzlaff, J. M., Akl, E. A., Brennan, S. E., Chou, R., Glanville, J., Grimshaw, J. M., Hróbjartsson, A., Lalu, M. M., Li, T., Loder, E. W., Mayo-Wilson, E., McDonald, S., … Moher, D. (2021). The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ, 372, Article n71. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n71
  • Pellerine, L. P., Bray, N. W., Fowles, J. R., Furlano, J. A., Morava, A., Nagpal, T. S., & O’Brien, M. W. (2023). Increased recreational screen time and time to fall asleep are associated with worse academic performance in Canadian undergraduates. International Journal of Health Promotion and Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/14635240.2023.2248091
  • Radesky, J. S., Weeks, H. M., Ball, R., Schaller, A., Yeo, S., Durnez, J., Tamayo-Rios, M., Epstein, M., Kirkorian, H., Coyne, S., & Barr, R. (2020). Young children’s use of smartphones and tablets. Pediatrics, 146(1), Article e20193518. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2019-3518
  • Rodman, A. M., Burns, J. A., Cotter, G. K., Ohashi, Y.-G. B., Rich, R. K., & McLaughlin, K. A. (2024). Within-person fluctuations in objective smartphone use and emotional processes during adolescence: An intensive longitudinal study. Affective Science, 5(3), 332-345. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42761-024-00247-z
  • Salam, S., Senin, A. A., Sikandar, H., Sheeraz, M. I., & Ali, A. (2021). Service innovation research: A comprehensive bibliometric analysis based on the Scopus database (1970-2020). Journal of Public Value and Administrative Insight, 4(3), 201-215. https://doi.org/10.31580/jpvai.v4i3.2054
  • Schmidt-Persson, J., Rasmussen, M. G., Sørensen, S. O., Mortensen, S. R., Olesen, L. G., Brage, S., Kristensen, P. L., Bilenberg, N., & Grøntved, A. (2024). Screen media use and mental health of children and adolescents. JAMA Network Open, 7(5), Article e2419881. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.19881
  • Sikandar, H., & Abdul Kohar, U. H. (2022). A bibliometric analysis of green innovation research. Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis Journal, 3(1), 31-43. https://doi.org/10.54480/slrm.v3i1.32
  • Sikandar, H., Abbas, A. F., Khan, N., & Qureshi, M. I. (2022). Digital technologies in healthcare: A systematic review and bibliometric analysis. International Journal of Online and Biomedical Engineering, 18(8), 34-48. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijoe.v18i08.31961
  • Sikandar, H., Kohar, U. H. A., & Salam, S. (2021a). The evolution of social innovation and its global research trends: A bibliometric analysis. Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis Journal, 1(2), 117-133. https://doi.org/10.54480/slrm.v1i2.9
  • Sikandar, H., Kohar, U. H. A., Corzo-Palomo, E. E., Gamero-Huarcaya, V. K., Ramos-Meza, C. S., Shabbir, M. S., & Jain, V. (2023). Mapping the development of open innovation research in business and management field: A bibliometric analysis. Journal of the Knowledge Economy, 15, 9868-9890. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13132-023-01280-2
  • Sikandar, H., Vaicondam, Y., Khan, N., Qureshi, M. I., & Ullah, A. (2021b). Scientific mapping of Industry 4.0 research: A bibliometric analysis. International Journal of Interactive Mobile Technologies, 15(18), 129-147. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijim.v15i18.25535
  • Sikandar, H., Vaicondam, Y., Parveen, S., Khan, N., & Qureshi, M. I. (2021c). Bibliometric analysis of telemedicine and e-health literature. International Journal of Online and Biomedical Engineering, 17(12), 52-69. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijoe.v17i12.25483
  • Stiglic, N., & Viner, R. M. (2019). Effects of screentime on the health and well-being of children and adolescents: A systematic review of reviews. BMJ Open, 9(1), Article e023191. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2018-023191
  • Twenge, J. M., & Campbell, W. K. (2018). Associations between screen time and lower psychological well-being among children and adolescents: Evidence from a population-based study. Preventive Medicine Reports, 12, 271-283. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2018.10.003
  • Vaicondam, Y., Sikandar, H., Irum, S., Khan, N., & Qureshi, M. I. (2022). Research landscape of digital learning over the past 20 years: A bibliometric and visualisation analysis. International Journal of Online and Biomedical Engineering, 18(8), 4-22. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijoe.v18i08.31963
  • Valkenburg, P. M., Beyens, I., Pouwels, J. L., van Driel, I. I., & Keijsers, L. (2022). Social media use and adolescents’ mental health: One-size-fits-all or differential susceptibility? Current Directions in Psychological Science, 31(4), 321-330.
  • van Eck, N. J., & Waltman, L. (2017). Citation-based clustering of publications using CitNetExplorer and VOSviewer. Scientometrics, 111(2), 1053-1070. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-017-2300-7
  • van Eck, N. J., & Waltman, L. (2020). VOSviewer manual. VOSviewer. https://www.vosviewer.com/documentation/Manual_VOSviewer_1.6.16.pdf
  • Vedechkina, M., & Borgonovi, F. (2021). A review of evidence on the role of digital technology in shaping attention and cognitive control in children. Frontiers in Psychology, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.611155
  • Xu, L.-X., Song, K.-R., Deng, H.-Y., Geng, X.-M., Zhang, J.-I., Fang, X.-Y., Potenza, M. N., & Zhang, J.-T. (2025). Beyond screen time: The core influences of problematic screen use on adolescent development networks. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 14(2), 724-737. https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.2025.00035